You remember what a book is don’t you? It’s those things we used to lug around in our backpacks in the olden days. They are usually rectangularly shaped and glued together with paper in the middle, and have words printed on them. They were once the main source of knowledge and information before the computer age.

Yeah, that old thing!

It’s true that many of us just don’t like to read, and here are7 Reasons Why.

According to the article, “back in 1978, just 8% of Americans said they had not read a book during the previous year, according to a Galluppoll. Last year, that figure had jumped to 24% — and that included listening to audiobooks — according to a Pew Research Centersurvey.”

Yes, these stats indicate that book reading is down, but the benefits are clear and they include: 10 Benefits of Reading.

Mental Stimulation

Stress Reduction

Knowledge

Vocabulary Expansion

Memory Improvement

Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

Improved Focus and Concentration

Better Writing Skills

Tranquility

Free Entertainment

We could all use all little more of this good stuff!

So, if we could commit to putting away our phones or computers and stop scrollin’ for a bit, we might find that reading a book can truly do us some good.

Yasuke – The African Samurai

The name sounds like a restaurant where you can get delicious bowls and wraps filled with your choice of flavorful toppings and sauce…right? Wrong answer!

No, that’s Yesake (and I will have to check them out the next time I’m in the Lake Buena Vista, Florida area).

I’m talking about Yasuke.

Yasuke, was an East African who arrived in Japan in the late 1500’s, who went on to become a trusted member of the inner circle of Oda Nobunaga, and a samurai. It’s been documented that he participated in several battles which ultimately led to the unification of Japan.

According to Deadline, Yasuke traveled to Japan with Jesuit missionaries. They claim that he was the first African to set foot in Japan, and that “Yasuke’s arrival arouse(d) the interest of Oda Nobunaga, a ruthless warlord seeking to unite the fractured country under his banner.” Ultimately, he learned “the traditions of Japan’s martial arts and ascending the upper echelons of Japanese society.”

This is certainly a movie I’m looking forward to seeing.

MB

Mooji – The Guru from Jamaica

Unhappiness can occur when people are not living their lives in a way that is congruent with their authentic selves. This is what I have learned after going for so long without pausing to reflect about who I really was or why I did what I was doing.

It certainly doesn’t feel good to be disconnected from your true self, and even worse to not know how to find the joy of authenticity. In the following video, an interesting question is posed to Mooji by a child – “How Can You Identify Your True Self.”